Sir Gawain

Sir Gawain is the main character of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the longest of the three works included in the Tolkien compilation. Gawain is a member of the Knights of the Round Table and conceives of himself as one of the weakest and meekest members of the group. However, when the Green Knight storms into the Arthurian Court, it is Sir Gawain who asks Arthur for permission to strike the Green Knight and take up his bet. When Arthur obliges, Sir Gawain decapitates the Green Knight, who then picks up his head and storms out, beginning the year and one day period until he has a similar shot at Gawain.

In the meanwhile, Gawain relaxes and enjoys his year. Several days before he must meet the Green Knight, he finds his way to a castle, two miles from the Green Chapel, where the encounter with...